(Closed) Am I an alcoholic?

I think I might be but I’m not sure. I don’t crave a drink but when I do drink I can’t stop even when I fight with my Fiance or friends. I also drink when I’m upset to numb the pain, e.g. I cheated on my Fiance and drank two bottles of vodka to get over it.

My personal opinion would be yes, especially due to the drinking in the morning comment. However, I am not a medical professional. You should talk to your doctor and/or a therapist about this.<br /><br />From a quick google search I pulled up this:

“To be diagnosed with alcoholism, you must meet criteria spelled out in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM), published by the American Psychiatric Association. These include a pattern of alcohol use leading to serious problems, as indicated by three or more of the following at any time during one 12-month period:

Tolerance, indicated by an increase in the amount of alcohol you need to feel drunk (intoxicated). As alcoholism progresses, the amount leading to intoxication can also decrease as a result of damage to your liver or central nervous system.

Withdrawal symptoms when you cut down or stop using alcohol. These can include tremors, insomnia, nausea and anxiety. You may drink more alcohol in order to avoid those symptoms, sometimes drinking throughout the day.

Drinking more alcohol than you intended or drinking over a longer period of time than you intended.

Having an ongoing desire to cut down on how much you drink or making unsuccessful attempts to do so.

Spending a good deal of time drinking, getting alcohol or recovering from alcohol use.

Giving up important activities, including social, occupational or recreational activities.

Continuing to use alcohol even though you know it’s causing physical and psychological problems.” source<br /><br />Without knowing you, you definitely strike positive on a few of those.

I’m no doctor or psychiatrist, and I’m sure there are specific diagnostic criteria to label you as an “alcoholic”. However, I can say from experience in the field of mental health that you lack positive, healthy coping skills. You’re using alcohol to cope with issues – and it’s not going to change your situation. I would urge you to look further into the things that are causing you to feel the need to drink, and alter your situation.

I hope that you can seek out some help that will teach you better ways of coping with problematic situations.

You definitely have a drinking problem. I am not sure if you posted this because you wanted advice or not, but if you are engaged and it is creating relationship issues, I suggest being open to your Fiance about the problem and maybe seek counciling or rehab. You don’t want to be so close to your wedding and have this issue come up or become worse and create more of an issue for the two of you or your families and friends.

ladymucklady: If you’re afraid that you’re an alcoholic and you have trouble coping with life without alcohol, then it may be true.

Is it affecting your interpersonal relationships? Your budget? Your ability to be a professional?

Try cutting it out for a month, and seriously looking for other coping mechanisms such as exercise or a better diet to deal with stress. If you can’t make it, or find yourself making up excuses all the time so that you drink despite your commitment for a short period of time, then it is probably time to seek help.

There are lots of ways to seek help both through AA & other substance abuse programs. Your healthcare provider may have a mental health & substance abuse hotline that you can use to seek out a counselor to aid you through this time.

I’m not passing judgement, but yes, you are. I had very similar behavior patterns with alcohol until I decided it was time to look in the mirror and make a change. I haven’t had a drink in 3yrs and my life is so much better because of it.

ladymucklady: I know how that is, I think that most of my friends meet up at bars and I’m very involved in the craft beer scene here. Start by sitting down with your fiance and voicing your concerns. This is the person who should most support you in your times of need, and you need to be sure that he will support you through a major life change. It is better to start this process now than after you’re married.

This will be a whole lifestyle change. The friends who care about YOU will support you and work to find new common ground if you usually only meet up to drink or have a bar-centric social life.

I would suggest not going it alone. It is always better to go through a change when you have support from those who have gone through it and from those who love you.